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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 2, 2009 10:43:34 GMT -5
Might as well start a thread on all 2010 WJC news regarding Habs prospects. With today being the day of the announcements of the Canadian and US final selection camps, I am sure we will here Leblanc and Kristo names later today. The first news is out of Russia, where Maxim Trunev has been named to Russia's extended roster. They will likely have a few more cuts, but at least he is still in the running as it would be great to see him over here. I have never seen him play except on highlights, so looking forward to seeing him against the best juniors in the world. www.russianhockeyfans.com/prospects/extended-wjc-roster-for-team-russia-released-38.htmlRealistically, the Habs should have four representatives at the championships: Leblanc - Canada Kristo - USA Naatinen - Finland Trunev - Russia Simila is a possibility for Finland in a back up role, but we will await their final roster to see if he gets the call. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 2, 2009 14:23:19 GMT -5
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Post by drkcloud on Dec 2, 2009 22:16:14 GMT -5
Bob McKenzie was talking today about the great depth Canada has at center this year whether Hodgson is able to play or not. Rattled off a couiole of names likely to make it then four to five on the bubble. LL was not one of them. An indication of his chances?
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 2, 2009 23:53:39 GMT -5
Bob McKenzie was talking today about the great depth Canada has at center this year whether Hodgson is able to play or not. Rattled off a couiole of names likely to make it then four to five on the bubble. LL was not one of them. An indication of his chances? Not playing in the CHL is a bit of a knock on his chances, but he had some good chemistry with some of the top lads at the U-18s. He is definitely a bubble guy, but he has had a nice start at Harvard which the scouts will like to see as he is playing against older competition than the CHL kids are. |
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Post by Skilly on Dec 7, 2009 11:47:56 GMT -5
Bob McKenzie was talking today about the great depth Canada has at center this year whether Hodgson is able to play or not. Rattled off a couiole of names likely to make it then four to five on the bubble. LL was not one of them. An indication of his chances? Not playing in the CHL is a bit of a knock on his chances, but he had some good chemistry with some of the top lads at the U-18s. He is definitely a bubble guy, but he has had a nice start at Harvard which the scouts will like to see as he is playing against older competition than the CHL kids are. ... it may be older but it is also inferior. (IMO anyways) |
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Post by seventeen on Dec 8, 2009 2:39:16 GMT -5
It would be interesting to see the Frozen Four winner against the Memorial Cup winner. Though the top talent at the same age level would be better in the CHL, you get guys who are 2 and 3 years older in the NCAA, and that can have a big impact. I don't think the difference is that much, Skilly.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 8, 2009 10:49:14 GMT -5
It would be interesting to see the Frozen Four winner against the Memorial Cup winner. Though the top talent at the same age level would be better in the CHL, you get guys who are 2 and 3 years older in the NCAA, and that can have a big impact. I don't think the difference is that much, Skilly. That would be good to watch. The NCAA really features a good skating game. Despite its zero tolerance for fights, there are some good physical games and teams in the NCAA, but still a notch or two below what you often see in the CHL. The CHL is clearly designed to help groom players for the pros. They play long schedules, and the game is more aligned with the pro game. The NCAA and CHL share the same fate in a way. Both leagues tend to lose their top end players early to NHL teams, as the best of the best are usually scooped and turn pro before graduation and/or before their junior eligibility runs out. On a selfish note, I am a little cheesed that the NHL Network in Canada did not renew its deal to show NCAA games this season...as that is one of the rare chances for Canadian fans to see the Hab NCAA prospects on TV (you can still get some webcasts if you are willing to fork out a few bucks each game). The Big 10 Network will show a few in the new year, so stay tuned. |
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Post by Skilly on Dec 8, 2009 17:41:54 GMT -5
I don't think the difference is that much, Skilly. Well of course there will be a scatter star from the NCAAs ... but for every NCAA star, there are 10 or more CHL elite stars. And just look at the Habs success with the NCAAs .... Higgins, Komisarek, Fischer, McDonagh .... I sure hope Pacioretty and Leblanc work out. Our NCAA picks haven't exactly panned out. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 9, 2009 11:29:30 GMT -5
Simila and Nattinen both on Finland's preliminary roster. Good luck to both.
Nattinen is a returning player and Simila is going for his first shot.
TSN features a pre-tourney game between Canada and Finland on December 22nd in Cow Town, so it would be great to see three Hab prospects in that game!!
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Post by ValkyrieNS on Dec 9, 2009 12:13:50 GMT -5
TSN features a pre-tourney game between Canada and Finland on December 22nd in Cow Town, so it would be great to see three Hab prospects in that game!! Must mark that down in my calendar, thanks for the heads-up! |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 9, 2009 14:56:23 GMT -5
Must mark that down in my calendar, thanks for the heads-up! Closer to the event and once all the final rosters are announced, I will post on this thread all the TSN and TSN2 televised games that feature Habs prospects. Right now, five kids are still sticking around on their respective preliminary rosters. If they all stick around, TSN and TSN2 will show 12 games (3 pre-tourney and 9 preliminary round) featuring our prospects. Quite a few more once you factor in the playoff games as they are on top teams. |
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Post by Anardil1 on Dec 9, 2009 18:36:48 GMT -5
Another thing in Leblanc's favour, possibly, is that he already has a positive history with Hockey Canada, having played in an under 18 tourney overseas already. And if my memory serves me correctly, he was part of a dominating line with Taylor Hall. I can't for the life of me remember who the third member of that line was.
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Post by Skilly on Dec 10, 2009 8:08:52 GMT -5
Another thing in Leblanc's favour, possibly, is that he already has a positive history with Hockey Canada, having played in an under 18 tourney overseas already. And if my memory serves me correctly, he was part of a dominating line with Taylor Hall. I can't for the life of me remember who the third member of that line was. Scott Glennie? |
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Post by Anardil1 on Dec 10, 2009 23:47:31 GMT -5
Sorry, but I have absolutely no recollection who the 3rd forward was.
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Post by Disp on Dec 14, 2009 1:58:46 GMT -5
Just got back from the red and white game. I was hoping for a little more from Leblanc, but it was a pretty tight checking game. Opened up a bit in the third.
No points, +1, went to the net hard on team whites second goal (he was #16, you can see him on tsn's highlights). You can tell he knows what he's doing out there. Made a couple nice defensive plays. Played most of the game with Luke Adam at center and a variety of guys on the other side. Took a good lick in the corner and a few shifts later went to net hard and sent the dman flying into the net for a penalty. Pretty sure it was the same guy who got him earlier.
Not sure how good this team will be. They may not have enough high end talent. Never really know until they start playing some real games however. I wasn't really impressed with any of the goalies. They didn't have to make too many tough stops but all looked a little shaky at times. Hackett looked the most steady to me. Team red hit 3 goal posts. The shots were 29-22 for team white, 16-11 after 2 periods (going by memory + or - a couple either way).
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Post by Skilly on Dec 14, 2009 11:01:13 GMT -5
I sure hope Luke Adam makes the team .... doesn't look good with all those returning centermen though.
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Post by Disp on Dec 14, 2009 14:58:25 GMT -5
I sure hope Luke Adam makes the team .... doesn't look good with all those returning centermen though. I wasn't impressed with him at first, but he got better as the game went on. They may want to go with size this year, he's got that in his favor. Nemisz is probably on this team as well. Big guy, nice hands. |
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Post by jkr on Dec 14, 2009 15:46:01 GMT -5
Another thing in Leblanc's favour, possibly, is that he already has a positive history with Hockey Canada, having played in an under 18 tourney overseas already. And if my memory serves me correctly, he was part of a dominating line with Taylor Hall. I can't for the life of me remember who the third member of that line was. This was bugging me too so I cheated & googled it. I found a Harvard interview with Leblanc. Looks like the 3rd guy was Matt Duchene. |
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Post by Disp on Dec 15, 2009 11:23:46 GMT -5
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Post by CrocRob on Dec 15, 2009 12:23:29 GMT -5
Bob McKenzie is putting Louis LeBlanc on the bubble, which I would also do. He's not been formidable on offense, but has shown some energy and hasn't looked out of place.
Bob tweeted this among his WJC projections this morning:
On the left, Della Rovere, Hall, McMillan and Bourque. My 13th forward would be Eakin or LeBlanc, probably Eakin.
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Post by Disp on Dec 15, 2009 15:08:30 GMT -5
Yeah he's probably on the bubble. Depends what they want. From what I saw, he's pretty good in his own end. No cheating.
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Post by CrocRob on Dec 15, 2009 15:42:05 GMT -5
LeBlanc playing tonight on the 2nd line with Cornet and Eakin.
other lines:
Hall-Henrique-Nemisz
Bourque-Kadri-Kozun
Adam-Schenn-Caron
Cowen-Hamonic
DeHaan-Teubert
Olsen-Lalonde
Cuma
Hackett/Roy/Jones will all play
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Post by ValkyrieNS on Dec 15, 2009 20:31:56 GMT -5
Hackett/Roy/Jones will all play Any relation to Jeff Hackett? Just wondering... And Roy can't be Patrick's son... I thought he told the judge at his sentencing hearing that he was giving up hockey and concentrating on his music career? |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 15, 2009 21:45:53 GMT -5
Any relation to Jeff Hackett? Just wondering... Nephew. |
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Post by blny on Dec 16, 2009 10:06:24 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 16, 2009 10:29:09 GMT -5
Too bad for Louis, as I would have liked to have seen him play in this tourney and gain from that experience, but there is always next year's team when he will come in as a 19 year old.
Given that he has only had 9 games so far this season, just came off a wrist injury leading into the camp (not sure how fully healed it was), and reportedly had to write three exams this week while in camp, he did well to get right down to the wire.
This will be the first Team Canada WJC team in a few years without a Habs' presence. Let's hope all the other Hab hopefuls make their respective teams.
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Post by Skilly on Dec 16, 2009 13:46:21 GMT -5
Luke Adam made the team!!!! Woo Hoo!!!  8 of the 10 provinces are represented on this team too ... only PEI and NS not represented. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Dec 16, 2009 17:35:59 GMT -5
Luke Adam made the team!!!! Woo Hoo!!! 8 of the 10 provinces are represented on this team too ... only PEI and NS not represented. If Minnesota sent a team we would be well represented. |
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Post by seventeen on Dec 17, 2009 2:27:34 GMT -5
Not sure about this team, though I don't know much about many of the players. Perhaps that's why I'm not so sure about them. The perceived weakness in goal is a bit troubling.
That and the fact they cut Leblanc. I can't seem to feel good about cheering for them because of that. Though I probably will.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Dec 17, 2009 17:31:34 GMT -5
Trunev confirmed on the Russian roster. For those 2010 draft watchers, there will be some seriously good forwards on this team. The top four CSB ranked forwards playing in Russia will all be on the team: Tarasenko, Kitsyn, Kuznetsov and Kulemin. The top ranked Russian born player, Kabanov, is playing with Moncton with the Q but is injured and will not play at the WJC. www.russianhockeyfans.com/prospects/team-russia-wjc-roster-released-69.htmlConfirmed TV coverage for Trunev and Russia is as follows: Tues Dec 29 SWE-RUS 6:00 pm ET (TSN2) Thurs Dec 31 RUS-CZE 6:00 pm ET (TSN2) TSN will be showing playoffs, so stay tuned for more as the tourney progresses. |
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